A court in Maharashtra's Nashik has granted bail to former Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee Nida Khan, who is accused in multiple cases related to alleged religious conversion, sexual harassment, and mental harassment at the company's Nashik unit. The court observed that forcing a pregnant woman to give birth while in prison would subject her to unbearable trauma and emphasized the welfare of her unborn child while granting relief.
Nida Khan, who is around five months pregnant, was arrested on May 7 after allegedly remaining absconding for nearly 25 days. She was taken into custody from a rented apartment in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad). Her bail application was primarily based on her pregnancy and was allowed by the Nashik Road Court on July 6.
Court Emphasises Welfare of Mother and Child
In his order, Additional Sessions Judge K.G. Joshi observed that the emotional and physical trauma of giving birth inside a prison is extremely severe for any woman.
The judge remarked that such a situation should be avoided in the interest of both the expectant mother and the newborn child. He further noted that since the police investigation had been completed and the chargesheet had already been filed, continued judicial custody was not necessary for investigation.
The court therefore exercised its discretion in favour of granting bail while imposing appropriate conditions.
Bail Conditions
The court directed Nida Khan to furnish a personal bond of ₹75,000 along with one solvent surety of the same amount before being released on bail.
The order pertains only to her release during the pendency of the trial and does not determine her guilt or innocence.
Prosecution Opposed Bail
The prosecution opposed the bail plea, arguing that investigators had collected substantial material during the investigation.
Public Prosecutor Vijay Gaikwad, along with lawyers representing one of the complainants, submitted that the investigation had revealed evidence relating to allegations of sexual assault, religious coercion, and other offences. They urged the court not to grant bail to Khan and another accused, Danish Shaikh.
Defence Claims False Implication
Appearing for Nida Khan, advocate Rahul Kasliwal argued that his client had been falsely implicated in the case.
The defence informed the court that Khan is a highly educated professional who previously worked as an associate at Tata Consultancy Services before her employment was terminated in April following the emergence of the allegations.
Her counsel maintained that she is innocent and deserved bail, particularly considering her advanced stage of pregnancy.
Allegations Under Investigation
Police are investigating nine criminal cases registered in connection with allegations involving exploitation, attempted forced religious conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation, and mental harassment of women employees at TCS's Nashik office.
According to investigators, Nida Khan is alleged to have attempted to influence one of the complainants by providing religious literature and a burqa, installing Islamic applications on the complainant's mobile phone, visiting her residence to teach religious practices, and demonstrating how to wear a hijab.
These allegations form part of the ongoing police investigation and will be examined during the trial.
TCS Response
Following the emergence of the allegations, Tata Consultancy Services stated that it follows a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, coercion, or misconduct in the workplace.
The company announced that employees allegedly connected to the incidents at its Nashik office had been suspended while the matter is investigated by law enforcement authorities.
Case to Continue in Court
Although Nida Khan has now been granted bail, the criminal proceedings against her and the other accused will continue before the competent court. The prosecution is expected to present its evidence during the trial, while the accused will have the opportunity to contest the allegations.
As the matter remains sub judice, the court's bail order should not be construed as a finding on the merits of the case. The guilt or innocence of the accused will ultimately be determined through the judicial process after the examination of evidence and witnesses.
